There is growing confusion over a widely celebrated multi-million dollar dairy investment after Qatari food company Baladna denied reports that it had agreed to set up a dairy factory in Ogun State.
Just a day ago, the Ogun State Government and Governor Dapo Abiodun announced with excitement that Baladna, Qatar’s biggest dairy producer, was ready to establish a large-scale dairy operation in the state. The announcement came after officials of Baladna, along with the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission Aisha Rimi, visited the governor in Abeokuta.
Photos of the visit flooded social media, with Governor Abiodun tweeting that Baladna was “setting plans in motion to establish a multi-million dollar food and dairy facility in Ogun State.” The state government also posted similar claims, saying Baladna aimed to replicate its dairy success in Nigeria and that the project aligned with national food security plans.
However, things took a shocking turn after Baladna spoke and denied having any deal in place. The company’s Marketing and Communications Director, Aladdin Idilbi, told a newspaper that the visit was only exploratory and that no agreement had been signed.
“To clarify, the visit was purely exploratory, aimed at assessing potential sites for arable and dairy farming. No agreement has been signed,” Idilbi said in a message.
He added that since Baladna is a publicly listed company on the Qatar Stock Exchange, it cannot enter into investment deals without proper regulatory approval and a formal announcement through official channels.
In a follow-up letter sent to The Guardian newspaper, Baladna made it crystal clear: “At this stage, we are only exploring potential avenues for cooperation. There are no agreements or announced projects regarding a dairy investment in Ogun State, Nigeria.”
The company warned that no one is allowed to issue public statements or use its name without official permission, especially since it could impact its stock market standing.
With the unexpected twist, questions have emerged about why the Ogun State Government announced the visit as a done deal. The development has raised concerns over the communication gap between state officials and potential investors.
Reacting to the denial, Governor Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kayode Akinmade, told The Guardian that no formal deal was signed. He confirmed the visit was a fact-finding mission and not an investment agreement.
Akinmade explained that the state simply pitched its advantages to the visiting team, such as access to land, proximity to Lagos, and an investor-friendly environment.
“They came to explore opportunities. We also showed them what we have to offer. Nothing has been finalised. It is still at the discussion level,” Akinmade said.
He dismissed any suggestion that the meeting was blown out of proportion, noting that it was covered by multiple TV stations and newspapers.
With Baladna distancing itself from any official agreement, the spotlight is now on how governments communicate preliminary talks and what expectations such announcements create among citizens. For now, what looked like a breakthrough investment has turned into a case of crossed wires and miscommunication.
